South Korea’s opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung is out of danger after he was stabbed in the neck during a visit to the southern city of Busan todayreports the medical staff who made the first assessments of his health.

Lee Jae-myung after his injury was airlifted to Seoul after receiving first aid.

Leewho had been narrowly defeated in the 2022 presidential election, he was conscious and taken to Seoul National University Hospital after a man attacked him as he moved through a crowd of supporters and journalists during a public event.

Official at Busan National University Hospital, where Lee received first aid, said his transfer to Seoul was made possible after medical personnel determined, based on initial tests, that his life was not in danger.

Party spokesman Kwon Chil-seung, speaking outside the hospital shortly after Lee was airlifted there, said medical staff expressed fears that the jugular vein that carries blood from the heart to the head may have been damaged.

“There is concern that there may be bleeding, according to medical staff”Kwon said.

The attack, which was captured on video and photos, unfolded in rapid succession while Lee was visiting a venue in Busanin which it is proposed to create an airport.

The attacker approached wearing a paper crown with Lee’s name on it and asked for his autograph while Lee was speaking to a crowd of supporters and reporters, while then rushed at himseen in video.

Busan police official Son Jae-han said at a press briefing that the suspect as the perpetrator was born in 1957 and used an 18 cm knife that he had bought over the Internet. He did not release the name of the suspect and said his motives are being investigated.

Local media reported that police will seek to charge the alleged perpetrator with attempted murder.

In television images and in a video released on the social networking platform X the man is seen rushing in with his arm outstretched and stabbing Lee in the neckwhile the momentum of the attack causes Lee to fall back into the crowd behind him.

Lee grimaces and collapses to the ground.

In photos in the media Lee is shown lying on the ground with his eyes closed and bleedingwhile people press a handkerchief around his neck.

Jin Jeong-hua, a Lee supporter who was present at the scene and livestreamed the incident, told Reuters that more than twenty police officers were present.

The assailant was then restrained by party officials and police officersas shown in the video images.

The president condemned the attack

South Korean President Yun Suk-gil condemned the attack.

“This type of violence should never be tolerated under any circumstancesYun said, according to his office.

Former Governor of Gyeonggi Province, Lee narrowly lost to the conservative Yuna former head of the prosecution, in the 2022 presidential election. He leads the largest opposition party since August 2022.

It is at Lee’s expense ongoing trial for alleged bribery in development program when he was mayor of Sonam, near Seoul. He denies all the charges.

The next parliamentary elections in South Korea are scheduled for April.

South Korea has a history of political violence, though has very strict gun laws. There is a police presence at the big events, but the political leaders are not usually under close protection.